Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms

His '04 debut 'The Disrupt' on Stones Throw, exposed his talents to the world, while recent beat production on albums by Wildchild, MED and Roc 'C' has seen him log more beats on Stones Throw releases than anyone - besides, of course, Madlib - and carve out a funky style related, but distinct to, that of his famed sibling, as the likes of The Source and URB have attested.

The hip-hop world can now witness the breadth of Oh No's musical vision with 'Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms', a unique concept album made of beats derived solely from Galt MacDermot samples.

Known primarily as the composer of the late-'60s smash musical 'HAIR', MacDermot distilled the essence of R&B rhythms and Broadway melodies into a unique and potent groove for the Age of Aquarius. After his breakthrough hits from 'HAIR', MacDermot perfected his sound throughout the following decades on his own imprint, backed by longtime collaborators, jazz/funk drumming legends Bernard Purdie and Idris Muhammad. Oh No was offered full access to MacDermot's huge [& still growing] catalogue of music for his work on 'Exodus Into Unheard Rhythms'.

Once he put his own sonic stamp on the composer's inimitable material, Oh No pitched the 70-plus beats he made to the MCs in his network. A formidable cast heeded his call to lyrically bless - from veterans like De La Soul's Posdnuos and DITC legend A.G. to current indie powerhouses like Murs and Vast Aire.

Longtime Oh No comrades like LMNO, M.E.D., Aloe Blacc, Wildchild and Dudley Perkins do their parts, alongside newer family members like Roc 'C', Georgia Anne Muldrow and Frank n' Dank, while appearances from Buckshot of Black Moon and Wise Intelligent of Poor Righteous Teachers lend additional weight to the all-star cast.

While he only touches the mic on three tracks here, Oh No's production efforts alone prove that he is one of those musical mavericks who – like Galt – hear the unheard rhythms first, and lead the way for the rest. An incredible hip hop album.